Page 24 of Blackout

‘This concludes your tour, Harley. Now if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.’ I could sense Andy’s relief. ‘Before I go, Graphite is the only business open at the moment while we set up the band from Melbourne. You are welcome to move around Black’s Bar and Grill as you please, but it would be preferable if you stay here in the lounge.’

‘No problem.’

But Andy continued as if I hadn’t spoken. ‘The kitchen staff have been instructed to prepare some food for you and bring it down shortly, oh and before I forget, Mr Black has requested me to give you back your debit card.’ Andy handed over my card, but I didn’t dare ask if my tab had been paid.

‘Thank you for the tour,’ I told Andy before he slipped out of the function room door and back the way we came.

I turned around and took in the Charcoal Lounge. There was a large oval wooden table with twelve seats, lounges to relax on, and a simple straight-line kitchen to prepare food and drinks. This lounge was private and very quiet. Everything in this room was black, the chairs, the lounge, even the kitchenette and the appliances. Only the oval table was made of pine and contrasted the room perfectly. Even with all the dark colours in this room, it didn’t feel heavy with light shining through all the panes of glass.

It was now mid-afternoon, and I stood in front of the glass doors and stared outside at the sun as it shined off the river. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even hear the kitchen staff when the food was brought in.

It hadn’t escaped me throughout the entire tour how modern each room was and how everything centred on the colour black. The names of the rooms and the colours in each room were all different shades of black. No two rooms were the same style, and no two rooms had the same atmosphere. I wondered if it was Zach’s choice to brand himself that way or not.

As I turned away from the glass doors, I saw the kitchen staff had left the food they were instructed to bring down on the table: a chicken and salad wrap and a bowl of fruit salad. I didn’t think I would be hungry after the breakfast that Zach had made, but I couldn’t pass up delicious-looking food.

I sat down at the oval table and rested my mobile phone in front of me. There had been no more messages from my sister, my mother or my grandparents, and for that, I was relieved. I ate the chicken wrap and picked away at the fruit salad, wondering how long I would be here. I wanted to go in search of Zach, but knew he was busy.

And then as if he knew he was in my thoughts, my phone buzzed silently with a text message.

Z: Hey, babe.

H: Mr Cute Bartender or should I say Mr Black?

Z: Ms James is better than Ms Bakery Manager.

H: So formal. I guess there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.

Did he roll my full name off his tongue, through his lips? Did he like what he heard as he said my name? Could he believe after ten years that I was back in his orbit again?

I had already rolled the name Zach Black around in my head. But I was yet to push his full name through my lips. As I said his name out loud it was if Zach was standing behind me whispering in my ear. That sensation ran through me now, and I couldn’t deny how much I liked it.

Z: I know your name, got your number. I know there’s more to the woman who passed out in my bar, and I’d like you to share it with me.

H: What do I get in return for sharing with you?

Z: Anything you want? I’m an open book?

H: Open book, huh? Do I even want to know how you got my number?

Z: No.

Okay, I told myself, but I wasn’t overly surprised he had my number; there had been plenty of times he’d easily had access. I had never bothered putting a lock on my phone before. But that was about to change. I scrolled through my settings and set a pin.

I saved his name to his number and let Zach Black roll off my tongue a couple more times. I was happy to be right where I was.

Z: How was the tour?

H: The one I thought you would take me on?

Z: Harley.

H: Okay. Black’s Bar and Grill is incredible. You have done a great job with everything.

Z: Thank you. How was lunch?

H: Good, but it would have been even better if you were here.

Z: I’m sorry, babe.

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